Screen Stories from Columbus Alivehttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/
Movie and TV Stories from Columbus AliveCopyright 2012, The Dispatch Printing CompanyCopyright 2012, The Dispatch Printing CompanyThe List: Top ten twinshttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/26/the-list-top-ten-twins.html
With TwinSmith coming to town for a show at The Tree Bar Tuesday, March 3, we thought we’d rank our favorite twins … because a list of Smiths would just be stupid.274f2d45-bd49-11e4-a96c-353ff38f384cMovie review: Con caper “Focus” is a fun break from the coldhttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/26/movie-review-con-caper-focus-is-a-fun-break-from-the-cold.html
Maybe it’s the cold, and maybe it’s that I have really low expectations for Hollywood movies in February — seriously, it’s bad-movie dumping season — but the con caper “Focus” felt a bit like a 20-degree uptick in the temperature.2aeaa3df-bd49-11e4-a96c-353ff38f384cNew movies in theaters for the weekend of February 27http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/26/new-movies-in-theaters-for-the-weekend-of-february-27.html
“The Lazarus Effect”2a2a881d-bd49-11e4-a96c-353ff38f384cTV review: Can “The Following” actually get worse?http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/26/tv-review-can-the-following-actually-get-worse.html
In the two seasons “The Following” has aired on Fox, it has been one of the worst scripted shows on all of network television. That’s saying a lot. What’s surprising is the first two episodes of Season 3 actually point to “The Following” getting worse.292b8e95-bd49-11e4-a96c-353ff38f384cStaff Pick: Vampire mockumentary “What We Do in the Shadows” is bloody brillianthttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/26/staff-pick-vampire-mockumentary-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-is-bloody-brilliant.html
If I was over the overuse of the found-footage gimmick in horror, there’s one low-budget trick I wish there was more of: the mockumentary.265ed9bd-bd49-11e4-a96c-353ff38f384cOscar 2015 predictions (and who actually deserves to win)http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/19/movies-oscar-2015-predictions-and-who-actually-deserves-to-win.html
I continue to have a love/hate relationship with the Academy Awards. I love that the nominations get attention for deserving/underseen films. I hate the self-congratulatory/industry nature of the awards themselves. That said, here are my predictions and personal picks for Sunday night.brad keefe553168d3-b7c1-11e4-bb15-353ff38f384cThe List: 8 reasons we are excited John Travolta is filming in Columbushttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/19/the-list-8-reasons-we-are-excited-john-travolta-is-filming-in-columbus.html
We were pretty stoked with this week’s announcement from the Greater Columbus Film Commission that an upcoming John Travolta action-thriller called “I Am Wrath” will begin filming in Columbus next month. Here’s what we’re looking forward to.56a5b977-b7c1-11e4-bb15-353ff38f384cNew movie releases for the weekend of February 20http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/19/new-movie-releases-for-the-weekend-of-february-20.html
“Hot Tub Time Machine 2”58859d31-b7c1-11e4-bb15-353ff38f384cMovie review: Parenthood tale “Mommy” is better than most Oscar farehttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/19/movie-review-parenthood-tale-mommy-is-better-than-most-oscar-fare.html
I realize that for a lot of film buffs, this weekend is “Oscar catch-up” weekend, but if I may convince you to see a movie that wasn’t nominated (and should have been), you need to see “Mommy.”576c8bf9-b7c1-11e4-bb15-353ff38f384cStreaming options: Amazon better than Netflix for TV?http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/12/streaming-options-amazon-better-than-netflix-for-tv.html
There’s a good chance some Alive readers will spend the weekend relaxing on the couch, whether due to the frigid weather or because that’s how you celebrate (or don’t) that special Hallmark holiday. So not why make the most of vegging out by checking out some excellent TV? While Netflix is generally the go-to delivery system for such binge-watching, Amazon actually has an equally strong — if not better — collection of TV series.jesse tigges72cc96dc-b247-11e4-b3bd-353ff38f384cMovie review: “Fifty Shades” better than the book, doesn’t mean it’s goodhttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/12/movie-review-fifty-shades-better-than-the-book-doesnt-mean-its-good.html
Sentence I frankly did not expect to be typing this week: “The ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movie was better than I expected.”brad keefe322f0f58-b3cd-11e4-a699-353ff38f384cMovie review: Moore’s performance is saving grace of “Still Alice”http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/12/movie-review-moores-performance-is-saving-grace-of-still-alice.html
“Still Alice” arrives in Columbus theaters this weekend on the wings of Julianne Moore’s Oscar-nominated performance, but it also is a case study in Hollywood’s gender problem.74201810-b247-11e4-b3bd-353ff38f384cNew movie releases for the weekend of February 13http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/12/new-movie-releases-for-the-weekend-of-february-13.html
“Fifty Shades of Grey”74ffc9c8-b247-11e4-b3bd-353ff38f384cMovies : “Mr. Turner” brilliantly acted and shot, but falls shorthttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/12/movies--mr--turner-brilliantly-acted-and-shot-but-falls-short.html
British director Mike Leigh’s “Mr. Turner” is not a truly great movie, but it is a great reminder of how many components make one.70343880-b247-11e4-b3bd-353ff38f384cThe List: 12 surprisingly good TV spinoffshttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/05/the-list-12-surprisingly-good-tv-spinoffs.html
The road of TV spinoffs is littered with turds (sorry, “Joey”), but with this week’s hugely anticipated debut of “Breaking Bad” spinoff “Better Call Saul,” we’re counting down some spinoffs that worked.0217410e-acd4-11e4-907a-353ff38f384cTV review: “Better Call Saul” is a welcomed return for “Breaking Bad” alumnihttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/05/tv-review-better-call-saul-is-a-welcomed-return-for-breaking-bad-alums.html
When it was announced AMC was producing a spin-off to “Breaking Bad” — what I view as the greatest television show of all-time — I was really skeptical. Look, I love the smarmy Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), but I just didn’t think he could be the central character of a compelling drama.jesse tigges06087874-acd4-11e4-907a-353ff38f384cMovie review: Wachowskis return with bizarre, overstuffed “Jupiter Ascending”http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/05/movie-review-wachowskis-return-with-bizarre-overstuffed-jupiter-ascending.html
Since the Wachowskis came roaring into the mainstream with what is still their definitive film, “The Matrix,” their projects have been getting hotter (“Speed Racer” was a Technicolor fever dream) and messier (“Cloud Atlas” was ambitious but required Cliff’s Notes).013a276c-acd4-11e4-907a-353ff38f384cOther new movies in theaters for Feb. 6http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/05/other-new-movies-in-theaters-for-feb--6.html
Roundup of movies opening in Columbus this weekend.brad keefe17e8bc44-acd4-11e4-907a-353ff38f384cMovie review: “The Voices” is a pitch-black comic delighthttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/05/movie-review-the-voices-is-a-pitch-black-comic-delight.html
The biggest problem with “The Voices” is that some of its potential fans might be put off by the leading man presence of Ryan Reynolds, while fans of previous Reynolds films like “The Proposal” might flee for the exits.10b1f6a4-acd4-11e4-907a-353ff38f384cTV review: “The Jinx” is harrowing and strange true crimehttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/02/05/tv-review-the-jinx-is-harrowing-and-strange-true-crime.html
HBO is getting into the serialized true crime game with its new documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” and it could turn out to be the darkest the genre has to offer. Simply put, if you liked 2014’s hit podcast “Serial” — or the lesser-known and fantastic docu-series “The Staircase” — this is right up your alley.01d1ac88-acd4-11e4-907a-353ff38f384cMovie review: “A Most Violent Year” a familiar crime story with less crimehttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/01/29/movie-review-a-most-violent-year-a-familiar-crime-story-with-less-crime.html
J.C. Chandor was in his mid-30s when he directed his debut feature, 2011’s excellent (and star-stuffed) Wall Street meltdown drama “Margin Call.”2684c773-a747-11e4-a14b-353ff38f384cTV review: “The Man in the High Castle” is Amazon’s most exciting new pilothttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/01/29/tv-review-the-man-in-the-high-castle-is-amazons-most-exciting-new-pilot.html
It was quite an interesting experiment by Amazon to release all the pilots it ordered on its Prime streaming service a few years ago. By allowing subscribers to vote and comment on these pilots, Amazon was supposedly allowing viewers to be a part of the production process. In reality, Amazon is going to order the pilots it likes to series, regardless of how people vote, but at least it’s a new approach.2a6e36f7-a747-11e4-a14b-353ff38f384cStaff Pick: Oscar shorts at the Gatewayhttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/01/29/staff-pick-oscar-shorts-at-the-gateway.html
While I’m not always a big supporter of the Oscars, I am a big supporter of more people seeing films they otherwise would not.29e9286b-a747-11e4-a14b-353ff38f384cOther new movie releases for January 30http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/01/29/other-new-movie-releases-for-january-30.html
“The Loft”29a2a985-a747-11e4-a14b-353ff38f384cMovie review: Import “Two Days, One Night” is beautiful in its simplicityhttp://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/01/29/movie-review-import-two-days-one-night-is-beautiful-in-its-simplicity.html
I grumble a lot about the inside politics and self-congratulatory nature of the Academy Awards, but I have to give some credit. They do give a spotlight on some movies that a lot of people would miss without a nod.260ed417-a747-11e4-a14b-353ff38f384c